Where do you want to travel?

Mahasu Devta Temple

278

0

0

Located on the eastern banks of the River Tons in Uttarakhand is an old Hindu temple called “Mahasu Devta”. This temple devoted to Lord Mahasu is situated in a village called “Hanol” in the Dehradun district. Initially this ancient temple was constructed using “Huna architecture” i.e. an architectural style used by Iranian speaking people. Furthermore, this temple is surrounded lush green hills, and attracts a large number of ardent devotees of Lord Mahasu i.e. an avatar of Lord Shiva.

The ideal time to visit this temple is throughout the year since the climate is pleasant in all seasons with the temperature in general ranging from a maximum of 35 degree Celsius to a minimum of 12 degree Celsius.

b. How to reach Mahasu Devta Temple

Mahasu Devta Temple Map

1. By train:

The railway station closest to this holy site is located in Dehradun at the distance of 181 km. The Dehradun Railway Station is well connected to major cities in the country.

2. By road:

If you intend to drive to this temple then the ideal starting points would be New Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gurugram, and Dehradun.

Via New Delhi:

There are three routes from New Delhi to this temple, and they are via NH44, via NH334, and via SH 57.

Via Haridwar:

There are three routes from Haridwar to this temple , and they are via Ambala-Dehradun-Haridwar Road/Ambala Poanta Sahib- Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway/Haridwar Road and Vikasnagar Chakrata Road, via Vikasnagar-Chakrata Road, and via Ambala-Dehradun-Haridwar Road/Ambala Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway/Haridwar Road.

Via Rishikesh:

There are three routes from Rishikesh to this temple, and they are via Ambala-Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway and Vikasnagar-Chakrata Road, via Ambala –Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway, and via Vikasnagar-Chakrata.

Via Gurugram:

There are three routes from Gurugram to this temple, and they are via NH44, via Atta-Bilaspur Road, and via SH 57.

Via Dehradun:

There are three routes from Dehradun to this temple, and they are via Ambala-Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway/Chakarata Road and Vikasnagar-Chakrata Road, via NH507, and via Mussoorie.

3. By air:

The nearest airport to Haridwar is located in Dehradun at a distance of 207 km. The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is well connected to major cities in the country.

c. Religious significance of the Mahasu Devta Temple

A popular folklore states that in the Hanol village there lived a demon called “Mandrath” who terrorized the villagers by eating one villager every day. Out of fear one villager (a devotee) prayed to Lord Shiva for help. In response Shiva asked Deolari Devi another devotee belonging to this village to send her four sons to fight the demon. An extremely fierce battle ensued between the four brothers and the demon which eventually resulted in the death of the demon. A few years later four shivalingas named after the four sons of Deolari Devi were found in the field in the village. As a result of which a temple was constructed at the site and Lord Shiva was worshipped as Mahasu Devta.